The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Valandil succeeded Isildur in III 2; the line continued into the Fourth Age
Location
The Heirs were originally Kings of Arnor, and remained in the Northlands after that realm came to an end
Race
Division
Cultures
Arnor, then Arthedain, and then the Rangers
Family
Settlements
The capital of Arnor was originally at Annúminas, but was later moved to Fornost, which was in turn abandoned
Other names
Title of
Forty named lords of the Dúnedain from Valandil to Aragorn's son Eldarion; the line appears to have continued after Eldarion's time

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 13 June 2014
  • This entry is complete

Isildur’s Heir

The descendants of Elendil’s eldest son

Isildur was the eldest son of Elendil, and so by right he and his heirs should have inherited the title of High King and ruled the Two Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. Soon after the defeat of Sauron at the end of the Second Age, though, Isildur and his three elder sons all perished in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields.

Isildur's only remaining Heir was Valandil, kept safe in Rivendell but only thirteen years old at that time, and unable to take up his rule. So, Isildur's nephew Meneldil took control of the kingdom of Gondor, and the Two Kingdoms split from one another. In the south, Gondor remained strong under the rule of Meneldil's descendants, but the North-kingdom was not so fortunate. It broke into three separate kingdoms, and was slowly overcome by dark forces of the neighbouring land of Angmar. Arvedui, Isildur's Heir through twenty-three generations, was the last King to rule in the north; he attempted to reclaim the High Kingship, but failed, and the last remnant of royal Arnor was overrun by its enemies.

Now the line of Isildur in the north became forgotten by nearly all. Though their royal cities were wasted, and their people dwindled, the line of Isildur's Heirs continued for another sixteen generations under the title 'Chieftain of the Dúnedain'. The last Chieftain was Aragorn II of the War of the Ring, who famously came to Minas Tirith and reclaimed the High Kingship of all the western lands.

Kings of Arnor

I Valandil Isildur's direct heir, Valandil was a child in Rivendell when his father and three elder brothers were slain. His cousin Meneldil took up the rule of Gondor at this time, and Valandil was later made the King of Arnor.
II Eldacar
III Arantar
IV Tarcil
V Tarondor
VI Valandur
VII Elendur
VIII Eärendur After Eärendur's death, Arnor was divided by his sons into three realms: Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur.

Kings of Arthedain

IX Amlaith Amlaith of Fornost, the first King of Arthedain, was Eärendur's eldest son and hence the direct Heir of Isildur.
X Beleg
XI Mallor
XII Celepharn
XIII Celebrindor
XIV Malvegil
XV Argeleb I At this time the Kings of Arthedain pressed a claim to the rule of the entirety of Arnor. For this reason, from Argeleb I onwards, their names took the royal prefix ar(a)-.
XVI Arveleg I
XVII Araphor
XVIII Argeleb II
XIX Arvegil
XX Arveleg II
XXI Araval
XXII Araphant
XXIII Arvedui When King Ondoher of Gondor was lost with both his sons in battle, Arvedui put forward a claim for the throne of the South-kingdom. He failed, and instead of reuiniting the Kingdoms of the Dúnedain, his own land of Arthedain was overrun by Angmar and destroyed.

Chieftains of the Dúnedain

XXIV Aranarth Aranarth revenged his father's loss with the aid of a Gondorian army, overthrowing Angmar and driving its Witch-king away into the south. Nonetheless, by Aranarth's time the Northern Dúnedain had dwindled too far to refound a kingdom, and they became a wandering people, secretly protecting the legacy of Isildur.
XXV Arahael
XXVI Aranuir
XXVII Aravir
XXVIII Aragorn I
XXIX Araglas
XXX Arahad I
XXXI Aragost
XXXII Aravorn
XXXIII Arahad II
XXXIV Arassuil
XXXV Arathorn I
XXXVI Argonui
XXXVII Arador
XXXVIII Arathorn II

Kings of the West

XXXIX Aragorn Elessar A great adventurer, Aragorn travelled widely in the lands of Middle-earth, eventually allying himself with Gandalf and helping to lead the defence against Sauron in the War of the Ring. He was crowned King of the West in Gondor, finally reuniting the lines of the Northern and Southern Dúnedain.
XL Eldarion Aragorn's son Eldarion is the last Heir of Isildur whose name is recorded, but it seems that he produced heirs of his own to carry on the line into the Fourth Age.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 13 June 2014
  • This entry is complete

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